Apparatus for extinguishing fires.



J. B. a O. B.. ERWIN. APPARATUS PGB. BXTINGUISHING FIRES. APPLICATIONFILED Nov. 7. 1914.

Patented Feb. 16, 193.5.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. B. & 0. R. 'ERWIN- APPARATUS POR EXTINGUISHING FIRES.

APPLICATION FILEDNOV, 7, X914,

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET z.

@www B Y J. B. e 0. R. ERWIN. APPARATUS POR EXTINGUISAHING FIRES.vAPPLICATION `FILED NOV. 7, 1914.

,128,r7@, Patented Feb.16,1915.

J. B. a O. R. ERWIDL APPARATUS FOR .EXTINGUISHING FIRES.

APPLICATION HLED Nov. 7, 1914.

1,128,768. Patented Feb;`16,1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I. B. z O. R. ERWN. APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES.

APPLIGATIGN FILED Non?. 1914.

UNITED srarns PATENT onirica.

JAMES B. ERWIN AND ORLANDO R. ERWIN, F MILVVAUKEIE,l WISCONSIN.

APPARATUS .FR EXTINGUISHING FIRES. y

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb.v 16, 191 5.

Application led November 7, 1914. Serial N o. 870,730.

To all whom-it mayy concern Be it known that we, Jaguns B. Enwix andOnLAND'o R. Enwr-N, citizens of the United States,

- ents vand the delivery of such foam. more rapidly than heretofore,upon a. burning surface.

A further object of our invention is to dispense ,with the use of pumpsor other equivalent devices for producing and discharging a foam upon aburning surface. `With our device the foam produced rises automaticallyand is discharged direct by i its own inherent expansion upon the tire,in greater `volume and velocity than by any other system of deviceswhich has heretofore been disclosed.

Our invention is further explained by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in

which- Figure 1 is a side view of an ordinary oil Storage tank, showingtwo of our automatic instantaneous foam producing'extinguishcrs inoperativel connection. therewith. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatusshown in Fig. 1. Fig". 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of oneof the extinguishers shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionalview of a modified form of the eX- tinguisher, adapted to be manuallyoperated. Fig. 5 is a modified form of our foam producing apparatus,also-in vertical section, and Fig. 6 represents vertical sections ofseveral chemical reservoirs in connection with two separate oil tanks,part in Vertical section.

1 is an oil tank of ordinary construction.

2, 2 are stand-pipes. The stand-pipes 2 are connected Awith the tank 1,by means of the spouts and bolts -i and 5. A series residing at the cityof Mil- 1 f waukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of of pulleys (i areconnected with the top of the oil tank, by brackets 2 and pins 3 and apulley 7 is supported inside the tank near the man-hole 8 by means ofthe bracket. 9 and pin 9. Pulleys 10, 10 are also supported inconnection with the pulleys 6 and 7, from the plates 11 by means of thebrackets 12, 12 and bolts 13, 13.

The pulleys 6, 7 and 10 support an operating cable 14,'which in turnnormallysupports an actuating weight 15 at veach of its free ends 16.One or more fusible links 17 are interconnected in the cable 14 betweenthe pulleys Gand 7, and set collars 18 are clamped to the cable 14,between the pulleys 10 and the trigger 19 ofthe stand-pipe 2.

Referring to Fig. 3, an acid receptacle 20, normally rests at one sideupon the stationary bracket 21 and at'its oppositeside upon the shortarm 22 of the trigger 19. The trigger 19 is connected with the verticalwall' of the stand-pipe 2 by means-bf the bracket 23, and pivotal bolt24, and the l shortarm 22 of the trigger 19 projects through a slot 26in said vertical wall.' The trigger 19 is normally held in an operativehorizontal position by means of the weight of the acid receptacleresting on its sliort arm and by means of the lug 27 contacting with thestand-pipe 2 at 28. The standpipe 2 is preferably filled with aSaponaceous alkaline solution, such solution being usually composed ofwater', soap bark and bicarbonate of soda. 30 is an acid-and-alkalineproof seal which consists of a heavy paraiiin oi] as the mainingredient. The acid receptacle 20vis preferably provided withleadlining 31, and the top plate 11 is also similarly lined at 32.Further a lead gasket 32 is interposed asapacking between its Hange 33of the stand-pipe and the top plate 11. This gfisket 32 projects, asshown, downwardly and into the acid receptacle 20, and forms a channel33 into which the acid proof material 34 is placed tov prevent injuriousactionof the acid fumes on the various parts of the apparatus.

Referring againto Figs. 1 and 2, a iire occurring in the tank 1, meltsone or more of the fusible links 17, when the weights 15 aresimultaneously free to .drop together with the set collars 18, shown inFig. 3. thereto connected by cable 14, when said triggers 19, 19 aremoved downwardly, disengaging their short arms 22 from beneath said acidreceptacles 20, whereby said acid receptacles are'free to drop andgradually descend into said saponacecus alkaline solu-i tion below,Awhereby a thick blanket' of durable faam is continuously generatedthroughout the descent `of said acid 'rccepl tacle, and discharged byits own expansion direct through the spout '3, upon 'the 'burn-v ing oilsur'fawc 36. when it lows all 0\.jer such surface and therebyexlina'uishes all fires in the tank.

The descendiirg;y .acid receptacle is shown in dotted vlines at Q0' and90". 20" lshows the final position of the/acid receptacle inits descentin thestand-pipe 2.

v.Experience has demonstrated that foi-.the

.best result Ithe.v acid-andalkaline solution must begraduallycommingled. By the device shown in Fig. 3 the tank Q0 can onlydescend as fast asthe .fluid in the stand-pipev 2 passes through thespace between said y 'tank and-stainl-pipe, when it flows over into saidtank, as indicated by dotted lines 20,'.

By the device shown in Fig. 5 the acid is lcd to the alkaline solutionthrough a 'perforated pipe 71 by which it is also gradually and morethoroughly cominingled ywith such solution. By thus' graduallycommingling: the two' solutions they become 'more thoroughly .mixed andtheir efliciency is greatly increased. Fig. 4 is amodified portableforni of our foam producing Adevice siznilar in construction andoperation to that shown in Fig. 3.. This device is likewise 'intendedprimarily for extinguishing oil lires with saponaceous foam of lessarcas than those of large oil ystorage tanks, etc. v A

To operate the' device shown in Fig. 4, the flexible -spout 42 ismanually directed toward the burning area, thepivotal latch 43 israised,and the hand-lever 44 is drawn to- 'Ward the right or away from thereceptacle 41, whereby'thcieceptacle 40, together with its contents ofacid 45 begins its descent'intoY the saponaceous alkaline solution 46below,

which solution israpidly discharged into the acid, a perfectcomminglingis effected and a thick durable foam rises and dlschargrge.`

' itself direct bv its own inherent expansion 5 from said receptacle .41to the burning area. Ythrough .said spout. The lever' 444v is pivotally`supported in thc bracket 47, which is connected to the receptacle 41 byrivets 48.

The acid receptacle 40 normallyrests at one side upon the stationary lug48 and at its `-opposite side upon the movable support 49, 'which latteris operatively. connected through the rod 50- and fork 51 with the leverH. and said rod is mounted in a bracket connected to the receptacle 41by rivets 53,- a's shown The acid receptacle 40 i s preferably made ofldass in the smaller vsizcsof devices and the fumes arisnfr from theacid are prcrcnted from csc,:iping` by means` of the 4load Agafdxet 54.-which is connected to the Fig. 5 is a further modified form of devicefor the commingling of the liquids froln that shown in F i gs. 3 and 4.Connected with the oil tank 1 isa stand-pipe 60 which stand*- pipe isfilled with our saponaceous alkaline' v The stand-pipe is directly.connected to the oil tank 1 by means of thev solution 61.

openspout 62, which spout is secured at one end to the oil tank and atits other end to the stand-pipe by means of, the rivets 63. Thestand-.piperl G0 is closed at its upper end .by means of the plate G4,which is bolted to the flange of the stand-pipe 60 'boltslf An acidreceptacle G7 is piyotally vvmounted .below its center of gravity and inan inclined position` upon ytrunnions 68 operating in the closed funnelG9, which funnel is secured, as shown. to the plate 6.4'by bolts70.

A perforated pipe 71 is connccted to vthe 'lower end of the funnel G9and extends to the bottom of the stand-pipe 60. The acid receptacle G7is' normally held in' its inclined position shown in Fig. 5 by the latch72, which latch is pivoted at 7 3 to the top plate G4 of the stand-pipeG0 through the bracket I 74. A cable 75 connects'lthe latch 72 with theweight 76 operating,lr over the pulleys 77. Another cable 79. likewiseattached to the weight 76. extendsover the tank pulley 78 into the oil`tank. and'thence over the lpulley 7 8y and from thence to the bottomofthe tank 1. The cable 79 is preferably provided vitha plurality offusible links81, located at short intervals apart, Iwhereby one of suchlinks 'will bc near .the surface of the burning oil. regardless of thedepth of oil in saidtank when ignited. 'The lowerend of the cable 79 ispreferably attached to a the gravity if which is greater than that ofthe weight 7G. The bracket 80 is supported from the verticalv wallfotthe)il tank near the top. In case 'of'a fire one of the fusible links 81melts'permitting said weight '76 tb drop, .whereby the acid recep-.tacle G7 is 'inverted` the descending Weight 72, whereby said acidwillbe discharged into the perforated funnel pipe 71. whereby acommingling of the two liquids is effected, and `wherebv a saponaccousfoamv is generated, which is util i iced as heretofore described.

' vrReferring to Fig. 6, 85, S5 represent a' ics Vi 'i o 76 actingthrough the cable 75 releasing latch cient capacity for more than onetank.' The receptacle 86 is connected through discharge pipes 87, 87with other storage receptacles 88, 88 located in close proximity to saidoil tanks, said receptacles 88, 88 being at a lower level with respectto said rst named receptacle 86. Risers 89, 89 lconnect each of thereceptacles 88, 88 with the top ofthe oil tanks 85, 85. Cable supportingbrackets 90, 9() are bolted to the vertical wall of each of saidoiltanks, near the man-holes- 91, 91. The receptacle 86 is provided withcable supporting pulleys 92, 92 and brackets 934 raised through theattached cable 98, also in connection with said weight 97, said secondcable 98 passing over pulleys 92, 92,, whereby a portion of thesaponaceous alkaline solution 99 'Hows out by its own gravity into thereceptacle 88, which referably contains an acid, like sulfuric, W erebya durable foam will be automatically and rapidly generated, which willrise by its own expansion and pass out through the stand pipe 89 to andupon the surface 100 of the burning oil, spreading uniformly thereover,and extinguishing all fires thereon. As the specific gravity of the foamis less than that of the liquid in the pipe 87 the foam will rise inthc/stand pipe 89. i

Especial attention is called to the fact that the receptacles 88, 88 aredesigned to hold only suflicient acid'when commingling with the othersolution to produce sufficient foam for the tank with which itisconnected, .that when such acid .or other liquid in the receptacle 88 isall used up in the generation of foam, said receptacle will be filledwith the solution from the receptacle 86, until the same levels ofliquid in the riser 89 and receptacle 86 are reached, when no more ofthe liquid 99 will be discharged.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent. is-

l. ln a device of the described class, the combination with a structure,having an exposed surface covered with an inflammable liquid, of aplurality of storage rei-eptaclcs for separatcly stored ingredients.adapted to be commingled in one of said` receptacles. means forcommingling said` separately stored ingredients in one of said storageYreceptacles, and means for discharging a foamproduced by comminglingsuch fire extinguishing substances upon saidinflammable liquid.

ln a device of the described class, the combination with a structurehaving an eX-l posed surface covered with an inflammable 'liquid, of aplurality of storage receptacles for separately stored ingredients,adapted to be commingled in one of said receptacles,-.

heat controlled means in the structure having such exposed surface forautomatically commingling said separately stored ingredients in one ofsaid storage receptacles, and `means for discharging the foam producedby commingling such lire extinguishing substance upon such inflammableliquid.

3. The combination with an oil tank, of

a receptacle the upper portion of said receptacle being permanentlyconnected Ywith` theiupperportion of said tank in a position to permitfoam to be discharged byits own expansion upon the surface of the tankcontents, and means for automatically causing such ingredients tocommingle under predetermined conditions of heat in said tank.v

4. The combination with a container for 'inflammable substances, of areceptacle having an outlet leading to the upper portion 'of saidycontainer and otherwise substant-ially closed for the development ofpressure in said receptacle, and means for developing a foam in saidreceptacle, said receptacle and its outlet being located and adapted topermit a rapid and direct discharge ofsuch foam by its own expansioninto the container.

5. The combination With a chamber, having surfaces which are coveredwith oil, grease or similar highly inflammable materials, of areceptacle having an outlet adapted to permit free discharge from thereceptacle over such surfaces, and means for developing a foam in thereceptacle; said receptacle being so located with reference to saidchamber, as to permit the foam to discharge by its own expansion throughsaid outlet and over said surfaces.

6. The combination with a chamber, having surfaces which are coveredwith oil, grease or similar highly inflammable materials, of areceptacle having an outlet adapted to permit free discharge from thereceptacle over such surfaces, and heat controlled `means forautomatically developing-,1a foam in the receptacle: said receptaclebeing so located withV reference to said chamber, as

expansion through said outlet and over said sl l rfa ces.

7. In a device of the described class, the` to permit the foam todischarge by its own` tank, adapted when acted upon by heat to comminglethe acid in said acid receptacle with the contents of saidstandpipe,Where-A ny a hfoam is produced and vautomatically discharged direct byits own expansion upon the 'surface cf the oil in said oil tank.:

8. In a device of the describedl class, the

combination of an oil tank,y av stand-pipe, means tor cmrnmgling foamproducing 1n-v gredients in said stand-pipe,v a duct leading Yfrom vtheupper end of' said stand-pipey toE the 'upper' end of said oil tank,heat cont-rolled yr'neans located in said oil tank for producing theinitial action for cmrnin-V gling said foam producing ingredients, 'a

- bracket aixed to' fthe lWall of said oil-'tank tom of said oil tank,la flexible member supported from saidI pulley Within said oil tank andconnected at its lower end with said weight, said exble member includinga plurality of fusible links, connected at short intervals apart Withinsaid oil tank, whereby when `a'ny one ofsaid links'is fused saidfoitm;producing ingredients will be comlningleugand; the foam producedthereby will be discharged (upon the fire in saidcil tank"' i Intestimony .whereof we alix our signatures inthe presence .oftwo-witnesses.

" JAMES B. ',ERWIN..

' f ORLANDO R. ERWIN.

,- Nitnesses:` .i ALICE J. MCKERIHAN,

IMA D, Buurman.,`r

